ZONE CONFERENCE.

Palm Bay Stake Center

Tuesday -- Day 1 of Zone Conference

Stan and I had the daunting job of inspecting all the mission cars.

Here we are getting set up.

Each companionship that has a car must fill out a record on their car. They check tires, fluid levels, lights and of course they must have a clean car inside and out.

Inside the big mission van Stan has supplies to clean, repair and service cars if they need it.  Oil changes are done at lube places but we have what we need to add to oil - brake steering wheel etc fluid. 

The missionaries usually run their cars through car washes and vacuum their cars before they get here but they finish fine tuning the job on site.  Some went to great lengths to win.  The big prize was 25 extra miles for the month, second prize was cookies.

Hard at work--that is an air compressor that Elder is carrying.

 

This Elder won 25 extra miles, while the others gave up and were visiting he kept busy, he is shining his hub caps. You can see his reflection in the car.

Lake Mary Stake

Wednesday - Day 2

Elders Back, Carter Hirschi Schmeil and Nash.

Elder Schmeil (shmile) came early from Brazil and Stan and I picked him up at the Mission Home Monday and took him to his new area in Winter Park. He will have a companion of his own once the rest of the new Elders come -- in a couple of weeks. We picked them up Wednesday morning and took them to the Lake Mary Zone Conference.

I assume this is Lake Mary - it is directly behind the church, it was so beautiful, it is a long lake and is in the shape of a long skinny kidney bean.  Ducks and other water foul were abundant as well as large fish jumping out of the water.

Along with the five Elders we brought from Winter Park to Lake Mary we had all the things we need for servicing and polishing cars PLUS two bikes we were delivering to two of the Elders who needed them.  Everyone was happy despite being crowded.  In fact all five Elders broke out in song, Nearer My God To Thee as we approached the stake house.  It was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes.

Yes you read it right.  Elder Ben Capps.  We knew there was an Elder Capps but until we inspected his car we didn't know what his first name was.  This is a case of some kind in the back of his car.  Ben Capps is also our grandson who stayed with us last summer. (Sarah and Chad's boy).

 

Believe it or not this is Elder Alex Nelson's car.  Alex is the son of Bill and Josephina Nelson our neighbors in Juniper.  No it isn't really our Alex but....

On the way home from Lake Mary, the Elders told us this is the church building of another church in the area.  It was never finished because of lack of funds.  I tried to get a picture of the bottom but failed,  but it is built up on pillars so it appears to be like a 'great and spacious' building.

Go Magic on the side of a building in Orlando, we saw this on our way home as well.

Windermere Stake

Thursday, Day 3 and the last day of Zone Conference

Stan getting set up before everyone gets there.

They weren't to worried about getting their cars cleaned but posed for a picture.

This Elder borrowed a buffer from a member in his ward.  Older cars are at a disadvantage and he buffed it up like new.  Needless to say he won 25 extra miles.

At Nine o'clock on the dot all missionaries drop what they are doing and head for the chapel where they are instructed by the President his wife the Assistants, Zone leaders and of course the Senior couples over cars, records, and the doctor. Stan and I stayed out and took the sheets they filled out and went over each car. Before they leave they put the paper on the front seat, the keys in the door and the trunk and hood up.  Stan goes over the list I inspect the cars we keep the paper, close and lock the cars and return the keys to them after the conference is over at four in the afternoon.

Part of the cars lined up for inspection.

 Elder Hansen messed up his knee playing basket ball on Preparation and relaxation day Monday.  He is a great Elder to say the least, he didn't let it get him down.

This is Elder Fielding.  Amy Heaton Fielding's son.  He is very tall fun loving and extremely hard working.  

 

 

View of the temple from the Windermere chapel.  Stan and I did take in a session in the temple that afternoon since we were so close. 

Monday before Zone Conference

Elder Bowden on the left filled in with Elder Condie on the right for two weeks while Elder Condie awaited his new companion.  Elder Bowden was a local boy waiting to go on a mission.

Elder Condie with his new companion Elder Berhold.  Elder Berhold came the same day as Elder Schmeil did. He was serving in Brazil when he got sick.  He was told he had bronchitis and given some medication which made his condition worse.  He was taken to a bigger hospital where they found that his heart was failing.  He was born with problems with his heart, and some valves were replaced at that time.  But now they were broken again and had to be repaired.  He had open heart surgery.  This is two months after that surgery.  He rides bikes.  He is an amazing elder to say the 

least.  

Friday night baptism

A picture of  the Cotrells Elder's Rice and Moyle and of course Haydee Revera. The Cotrells invited Haydee to the Glady's night concert.  The Elders taught her and she was baptized.  It was an amazing moment in time.  I was privileged to speak about the Holy Ghost that night.  I wish you could meet her, what a powerhouse.

Yes besides having an Elder Capps we have an Elder Rice.  (Beth's married name).  Elder Moyle on the right looks like Matthew Nelson will look like as a missionary.  The other day I saw where his name is Matthew as well. Elder Rice and Moyle are our office Elders.

Day of Service

Saturday our stake invited the community to join in a service day.  The men worked at different sites cleaning up repairing and painting buildings:  A church of another faith, a humanitarian center and some homes. The ladies gather at a donated government pavilion.  We sewed bereavement gowns.  These are for babies who pass away either before birth or right after.  We did 180 - half for girls half for boys.  There were also little hats, booties and packets sewn.  It was am impressive undertaking.  A lot of work went into the planning and organization of this event.

Sister Missionaries helping out.  Sister Ellsworth and Sister Homer our Signing sisters who work with the hearing impaired.

Sister Ellsworth and me.  I was the only one in our station that could run a surger so that was my job for the day.  Working on these little clothes was not an easy task, but such a privilege.  It was like we were working on temple clothing, it was a sacred experience.  

Sunday

Sister Evon Guitian who teaches the Gospel Preparation class.  Just a tiny little thing but such a giant spiritually and intellectually, and can really reach out and teach the wide range of students in her class.  

I sat next to Peggy  Creevan in Relief Society.  She is a new member of a couple of months.  Her  husband wanted to come back to church and he brought her with him.  She prayed in Sunday School Class today for her first time, and she prayed in English.  This is her Korean Book of Mormon.  They read from what is our back of the book to what is our front of the book going from right to left in their reading.  I turned it over and the cover is on the right back.  She loves her scriptures and finds great peace in them.

There are not words to express my love for the Savior.  I know He lives and loves us.  This gospel is true. That I know without a doubt.  I have such great joy and happiness and have found peace through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

One Month on the Job

Wednesday all of the computers in our area were down so we did what was needed without the Internet and headed for the temple.  This is the view coming up to it from the south.  I believe that is the only hill in Florida, but of course I haven't been very far away from our apartment.

This is a very beautiful temple, the spirit is beautiful.  BUT it is very poorly attended.  All of the Stakes and Wards in the Orlando Temple district are working hard to motivate people to attend.  Stan and I were the only couple in the 4:00 session plus one other lady.  We heard that Thursday night was a big night with the room almost filled.  As we were leaving Wednesday there were a lot of youth attending for baptisms.  That was exciting to see.  This temple district needs your faith and prayers.

Saturday was very laid back and relaxed.  Stan didn't want to travel so I went to the Farmer's Market after I cleaned and did the wash, which only takes an hour at best.  Then later on I needed to get a cable for our Garmin GPS unit so we can upload new information.  I was going to make a quick run to Target or Best Buys.  As I got out there without Stan I thought to myself, "Self this would be a good time to check out the Florida Mall".  So without Stan rushing me I went in.  

What a surprise.  It isn't the biggest mall I have ever been in or the best, about normal.  BUT the people.  Yes it was Saturday afternoon and I did expect a lot of people the parking lot indicated that BUT when I say people I mean the different kids of people.

What a treat!

 I just walked and listened and observed.  It was absolutely amazing!  The diversity always blows me away.  The languages, costumes, colors, and animation.

I walked through the food court and there were places in there representing every country.  The smells and samples were enough to make my head spin.  On my way back through I opted for a taste of the Natural Foods Cafe and had a wrap that was delicious. When Stan is with me I will share some of the exotic places with him.

I also walked through Penny's and they were having a huge sale.  Buy one get the second for 88 cents.  So I made good there.  Lots of fun :-)

I was just headed to the Wal-Mart which was the closest place by then to get my cable and Stan called.  He said the Elders in Apopka locked their keys in their apartment and were locked out. They went out on an all day service project and rode with members.  So that is how they locked their apartment keys and car keys in the apartment.   They had a garage and if they could get into the car they could open the garage with the remote and thus get into their apartment.  So I went back to the apartment, about a 15 minute drive, then Stan and I headed to the office to get the spare keys about a 10 minute drive then out to Apopka, about a 40 minute drive.  I felt so bad.  These Elders had worked so hard all day and were so tired and had to wait over an hour or more to get into their apartment. 
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From Left to right

Elder Merrill - Elder Campbell - Elder Barns - Elder Becksted.

(yes Campbell, there is also a Sister Campbell)

Elder Campbell and Becksted had a teaching and dinner appointment but we took Elder Merrill and Barns out to dinner.  They went in and showered and put on white shirts and ties and of course name tags.  We had a wonderful time with them.  By the time we got home to our apartment it was after 10.  The cable I set out to purchase about 4:00?  Well I will get it Monday evening, in time to upload new information

 to get us to the different Zones next week for Zone Conference.   

I learned that we do indeed live in a beautiful area of the Orlando mission.  Not everyone had beautiful groom landscapes and roads and screen enclosed back yards.  

This was an area that was not so nice, I missed the house I was aiming for  but it isn't good.  We also saw briefly the skyline of Orlando.  I hope I can get out and seen more. 

I mentioned once that Orange Blossom Trail (OBT) and John Young highways basically are our main north south roads.  Well this is where they meet and cross over each other and head in opposite directions.  Very interesting. 

Stan and I look back on this last month and if feels like it has been a life time.  We have learned so much, and been through so many adventures learning and growing and gaining friendships and meeting these beautiful youth who are so dedicated to the Lord's work.  We are so blessed to work next to them.  We are learning the importance of the work we do to help these missionaries to be unencumbered  in their work.  All they need to do is focus on building the Lord's kingdom and getting those reports into us. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true-- there no doubt this is the Lords work.  Thank you for all your support, faith and prayers in our behalf -- we feel so blessed.

Blast from the Past

This is the picture of Pres and Sister Darrington we should have had when we got to the mission when I thought I lost my camera.  This is Conference weekend.  We are facing their house.  Most homes are facing some kind of little lake, like what you see in the back ground.

The other couples serving with us are: The Swains are behind me the James' behind Stan and our new Doctor and his wife the Humphrey's next to Stan and of course the Darringtons next to me.  The Humphrey's already  live in Florida and serve the whole mission, the missionaries health is his business, he is one busy man.  

This is the front of the mission home.

Back view of the Mission home.  All the porches are screened in and a lot of the homes have a screen built over their complete back yard and have pools as well.

This is the neighbors, but most of the homes have there screens over their pools or whole back yard.

  The front room of the mission home where we had of first interview with Pres and Sister Darrington the night we arrived in Orlando.

This is the General Authority room.  There is a nice bathroom to the left and a nice chair and table and closet to the right and a beautiful view of the lake in the back yard.  Very nice bed and accommodations.

  Our apartment, there are many more just like this one. (About 450 apartments).  Our entrance to the left the area with the double pillars-- we also park on the side of the building and go in the back way, less traffic and more parking.  All the little patios are enclosed with screens on the ground level.  

Our little patio, yesterday I added more flowers, I put the red ones to the left side and pink vine geranium in front and some color on the table.  It is so nice to sit here in the morning and look at our lake and watch the sun come up as I eat my breakfast.

The lake looking out our patio.  I asked some boys who were fishing in it, what they caught.  They said bass and catfish.  They also said there are alligators in it.  They have seen two little ones.  Glad there is a chain fence and hedge between us and it.  

The next few pictures are of the lake we walk around all the time. It is in the middle of our apartment complex, and there will be pictures of our pool area as well.

 

Mail boxes for our apartments.

Our resident duck.  He still needs a name.

These are our ducks friends -- the drake and the hen with her head  under the water.  

 

The front of the Mission Office

We have the Welfare unit and the Employment and Social Services all in the same complex.  Behind the building is where the fuel tanks are for fueling up  trucks and out front are 15 cars Stan is responsible to sell.  He also has a little shed where all the extra 'stuff' is stored.  If a missionary needs anything for their apartment this is one of the places he goes to - to find it. 

 Unlocking the building for a new day. (my reflection in the door).

 Front office where Sister James works. There is a nice couch to the left. 

Front door and waiting chairs to the right and behind.

I have two desks, one for the computer the other for filing and receiving referrals over the phone.

Stan's desk after Easter and Transfers.  We hold the mail for transfers so we can get the mail to the missionaries at their new locations.  It happened to fall on and around Easter Weekend.   He actually made it through all this mail, there is more on the floor.  This last week I took over the mail for him. He has more then he can handle with the vehicles and keeping track of where they are - the service needed on them and selling them plus all the errands he is asked to do.

A lot of the intersections look like this.  They are heavy reinforced frames that the traffic lights are attached to. The street lights are very solid as well.    So when the winds of a hurricane come through they will stay put.

 

The streets are really wide.  You can see the three lanes here and on the other side of the island they are the same.  At the intersections there is a break in the islands and cars do U Turns all the time because you can't cross over anywhere.  It is crazy, you really have to watch out.  

 

The Marriott Motel that is our land mark.  Since there are no mountains around we can see this and it is a reference point to where we are.  Down town Orlando has some tall buildings but most every thing is built close to the ground because of the hurricanes.

Yesterday Stan turned 65, April 10.  We went out to eat and he order alligator for an appetizer.  No I didn't take a picture of him eating alligator, I should have.   Last week he also saw Micky and Mini while delivering mattresses to the sisters.

We found a way to the temple that will take us around the toll roads.  My battery on my camera died but I did get a couple pictures before that, not good but doable.  

 

Life in Florida is interesting.  We did travel out and around some yesterday. Stan sees a lot more then I do so he took me to some of the areas I work with in the office but have no clue where they are.  It was nice to see more of Orland besides the road in and back from work.  We actually went up a little hill to the temple.  It is the only rise I have seen.  The trees were bare when we first got here, now they are all leafed out.  At first the Palm trees really stood out, now they blend in.  There are a lot of trees with blossoms right now and it is beautiful.  We love the work we are doing and recognize the Lord's hand in helping us.  We do not have any training in what we are doing yet we are able to do the work --  The Lord is in control and His work will be done and he makes us equal to the task.  We love the Lord and have a strong testimony of the  truthfulness of the gospel.  We see so many people being baptized and embracing the truth.  It is humbling to see them and hear their testimonies.